Seroprevalence and risk factors of Toxoplasma gondii in sheep and goats of North West Province, South Africa

BACKGROUND

The protozoan parasite Toxoplasma gondii causes toxoplasmosis, one of the most prevalent parasitic zoonotic diseases with significant economic and public health implications worldwide. Infection with the parasite has a significant adverse effect on sheep and goat production and can frequently go undetected in the herd, resulting in abortions and weak or dead offspring. Although there are few studies on seroprevalence and risk factors associated with T. gondii infections in livestock in other provinces of South Africa, there is no data in the North West province. Therefore, a cross-sectional study was conducted to investigate the seroprevalence of T. gondii and risk factors associated with exposure in sheep and goats of the North West province of South Africa. Sera from 439 livestock (164 sheep and 285 goats) were collected and analysed for the presence of T. gondii IgG antibodies using indirect ELISA (Enzyme-linked immunosorbent assay). An assessment of potential risk factors in farms associated with seropositivity was also conducted using a structured questionnaire.

RESULTS

Out of the 439 tested sheep and goats, 13.9% (61/439) were positive for IgG antibodies against T. gondii. Sheep and goats had seroprevalences of 19.5% (32/164) and 10.5% (29/275) respectively. In the multivariable logistic regression model, the risk of acquiring T. gondii was significantly higher in the mixed breed [Odds ratio (OR) = 71.07; 95% confidence interval (CI): 266.8-1893.1; p < 0.011)] animals than white dorper sheep and in farms that burn or bury aborted material (OR = 42.04; CI: 179.9-982.5; p = 0.020) compared to those that only burn aborted material. The risk was lower for the farms in Kagisano-Molopo (OR = 0.00; CI: 0.0-25.4; p = 0.015) and Mahikeng (OR = 0.00; CI: 0.0-4.9; p < 0.001) local municipalities than Greater Taung local municipality, and for the animals that drink water from dams (OR = 0.03; CI: 0.2-58.8; p = 0.021) than those that drink from boreholes.

CONCLUSION

The seroprevalence and risk factors associated with transmission observed show that T. gondii infection is widespread in sheep and goats of the North West province.

Job satisfaction among health professionals in a District of North West province, South Africa

Background

Job satisfaction has become an area of relevance and debate in public health as it is directly linked to staff absenteeism, retention and turnover of the workforce and as such, influences the organisational commitment of the workers and the quality of health services provided. It is therefore essential to discern what drives healthcare professionals to remain working in the public health sector.

Aim

This study aimed to determine job satisfaction and its associated factors among healthcare professionals.

Setting

North-West province South Africa.

Methods

A cross-sectional study was conducted among 244 healthcare professionals of different categories in three district hospitals. A self-administered structured questionnaire with 38 questions to measure job satisfaction was used to collect data. The chi-square test was used to compare groups, and a p-value < 0.05 was considered statistically significant.

Results

Overall, 62% of the participants were not satisfied with their job. The most common factors that participants were not satisfied with include job security (52%), standard of care (57%), opportunity to develop (59%), payment or wages (76%), workload (78%) and working environment (89%). Job satisfaction was significantly influenced by age, job category and years of service.

Conclusions

The predictors of job satisfaction include age, category of employees and years of service. Interventions are required to improve the degree of job satisfaction among health care professionals.

Contribution

Findings of this study will assist informing plans that are geared towards enhancing healthcare worker job satisfaction, retention and consequent health systems strengthening.

Scrotal tick damage as a cause of infertility in communal bulls in Moretele, South Africa

Calving rate in communal cattle influences both food security and socio-economics in rural households. A previous study indicated that scrotal damage caused by ticks could affect the fertility of communal bulls and reduce the annual calving rate. The objectives of the study were to investigate the annual calving rate in communal herds by counting calves during herd visits, perform breeding soundness examinations on bulls and identify adult ticks attached to their genitalia. This prospective longitudinal survey was based on participatory rural appraisal. Calving rates were estimated in cows (n = 2398) from 100 randomly selected communal herds in Moretele over 12 months in 2013, during routine visits by animal health technicians. Randomly selected bulls (n = 50) from these herds were tested for Brucella abortus, Trichomonas foetus and Campylobacter fetus subspecies venerealis. The calving rate was 35.86% (0.359). The mean scrotal circumference was 37.63 ± 3.42 cm. Total sperm motility was 78.73 ± 35.73%; progressive sperm motility was 27.39 ± 15.81% and non-progressive sperm motility was 51.34 ± 19.92%. Thirty-five of the 38 bulls examined for breeding soundness exhibited severe scrotal and preputial lesions caused by the adult ticks Amblyomma hebraeum and Hyalomma rufipes. Tick control methods used included spraying (n = 20), pour-on (n = 11), no control (n = 1) and various (n = 18). It was concluded that in Moretele genital tick damage had a more serious impact on the fertility of communal bulls than contagious diseases. Targeted acaricidal spot treatment of the genitalia of communal bulls to prevent infestation is recommended, as tick control strategies used by farmers appeared to be inadequate.